Page 131 - 2023-24 By-Laws

Rule 51 - Baseball

is determined by adding all Pitches thrown by a pitcher during all Contests in a calendar
day.
b. Maximum Contest and Daily Pitch Count.
(1.) A pitcher may throw no more than One Hundred Twenty (120) Pitches in a Contest.
(2.) A pitcher may throw no more than One Hundred Twenty (120) Pitches during a cal-
endar day.
(3.) This maximum number of Pitches a pitcher may throw in a Contest and the maximum
number of Pitches a pitcher may throw during a calendar day is called the Maximum
Pitch Count and a pitcher must leave the pitching position when a Maximum Pitch
Count is reached, unless the Maximum Pitch Count is reached during a batter’s at-
bat, in which event the pitcher may fi nish pitching to that batter before leaving the
pitching position.
c. Mandated Rest; Pitch Count Levels.
(1.) A pitcher must rest after reaching the following Pitch Count Levels:
Pitch Count Level If the Pitch Count in a The pitcher
calendar day is: must rest:
1 1-35 0 days
2 36-60 1 day
3 61-80 2 days
4 81-100 3 days
5 101-120 4 days
(2.) If a pitcher reaches the maximum number of Pitches in a Pitch Count Level during a
batter’s at-bat, and the pitcher leaves the pitching position for the day after pitching
to that batter, the pitcher’s Pitch Count will be the maximum number of Pitches in
the Pitch Count Level the pitcher initially reached during that batter’s at-bat (e.g., if
a pitcher reaches the maximum number of Pitches in Pitch Count Level 3 [Eighty
(80) Pitches] during a batter’s at bat, and the pitcher leaves the pitching position for
the day at the conclusion of that at-bat, the pitcher’s Pitch Count will be Eighty (80)
Pitches, irrespective of the number of Pitches thrown during that at-bat).
(3.) Regardless of the daily Pitch Count, a pitcher who has a Pitch Count of more than
Sixty (60) Pitches over Two (2) calendar days must rest One (1) calendar day. Like
the daily Pitch Count, if a pitcher reaches Sixty (60) Pitches on the second calendar
day during a batter’s at-bat, the pitcher may fi nish pitching to that batter before leaving
the pitching position, and in that event, the Two (2) day Pitch Count would be Sixty
(60) Pitches regardless of the number of Pitches thrown during that at-bat.
(4.) A pitcher’s period of rest begins on the calendar day following the calendar day in
which the pitcher reached the Pitch Count Level which required a period of rest.
d. Pitch Count Chart. A School shall maintain a Pitch Count Chart (use IHSAA form) for every
pitcher. A copy of the Pitch Count Chart with current statistics must be submitted following
each Contest to the appropriate School Administrator by the pitcher’s Varsity baseball
coach. The School shall maintain the pitcher’s Pitch Count Chart until a reasonable time
after the School’s baseball season is complete.
e. A School which intentionally utilizes a pitcher in violation of rule 51-4(b) (Maximum Contest
and Daily Pitch Count) or rule 51-4 (Mandated Rest; Pitch Count Levels) must forfeit the
Contest in which the violation occurred and report the violation in writing to the IHSAA.
f. Replacement Pitchers. A replacement pitcher for a pitcher who has reached a Maximum
Pitch Count shall have a maximum of Sixteen (16) warm up throws.
g. Recommendations. It is recommended that (i) every School also use a mobile app to count
Pitches, (ii) the School of a pitcher who has reached a Maximum Pitch Count carefully
consider an appropriate fielding position for that pitcher after considering the fielding
position’s throwing requirements, (iii) to allow for growth and arm strength, every School
should develop a pitching philosophy that includes the instruction of proper throwing
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